Timer control



Oct. 12,1954 v Q ED JR 2,691,485

' TIMER CONTROL Filed Jan. 25, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet l 14 I I INVENTOR.

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Patented Oct. 12, 1954 TIMER CONTROL Verne C. Kennedy, Jr., Chicago, Ill., assignor to Streeter Amet Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application January 25, 1951, Serial No. 207,766

6 Claims. (Cl. 235-92) This invention relates to timer controls and more particularly to mechanically operated timers to provide for the operation of counting devices or the like at preselected times only.

It is desirable in many types of operations to be able to preset a mechanism to operate only during a selected time period such as selected hours of certain days only. For example, in traffic counting, it is highly desirable to be able to preset the counter to operate only during selected hours of certain days such as to count rush hour traflic only.

It is one of the objects of the present invention to provide a timer control which can be set to operate selectively during certain hours only of certain selected days.

Another object is to provide a timer control in which the clock motor operates one switch mechanism to determine the hours of the day during which the mechanism is effective and operates a second switch mechanism to determine the days in which the mechanism will be effective.

According to one feature of the invention, the hour control switch is a double throw switch controlled by a pair of adjustable cam discs each having raised, curved edges extending through half its periphery and which is connected in series to a second double throw switch to select the effective contact of the first switch. With this construction, all or any selected part of the entire 360 of rotation can be made the portion through which the mechanism is elfective.

According to another feature, the hour control switch is connected in series to a day control switch, which is operated by a cam disc advanced in a step by step manner by the clock motor. In the preferred construction, the cam projections operate the day control switch only during selected days.

Another object is to provide an impulse counting mechanism combined with a timer control, so that the entire device can be preset to count impulses only during selected time periods.

The above and other objects and advantages of the invention will be more readily apparent from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawing in which;

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a combined impulse counting mechanism and timer control with the casing opened,

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the mechanism of Figure 1 with parts in section, and

Figure 3 is a circuit diagram.

The impulse counting mechanism as illustrated is mounted in a two part casing formed of cup shaped parts [0 and l l hinged together along one edge as indicated at l 2. The casing parts can be swung to an open position as illustrated for access to the mechanism to set it or to repair it and when in use the parts are swung together and are held in closed position by any suitable type of latch such as formed by the parts [3 and 14.

The casing I0 is adapted to contain an impulse counting mechanism which is shown as a traffic counter, operated by fluid pulses. The fluid pulses are produced by vehicles passing over a closed flexible tube and are transmitted to a flexible diaphragm [5 which operates an impulse producing switch mechanism It. Normally the switch It is open and it is closed temporarily when a fluid pulse is transmitted to the diaphragm to produce a short electrical impulse. The tube and diaphragm may communicate with a fluid relief valve l 'l to prevent the development of excessive pressures in the fluid system.

The electrical impulses produced when the switch I6 is closed are adapted to advance a counting device l8 which may be of the usual type comprising a series of rotatable number discs. The counting device is turned by a pawl I 9 operated by a solenoid 2! (Figure 3) and which engages a ratchet wheel 22 connected to the counting device. For traflic counting, the mechanism is set to advance the counting device one full number for each two full impulses so that the device will count only one vehicle to correspond to the impulses produced by. the front and rear wheels passing over the tube. For other types of counting operations the device may be set to advance one number for each impulse, or for any desired multiple thereof.

The case l0 carries batteries 23 which serve as a source of power for the entire mechanism and may also have a master control switch 24 by which the device can be turned on or off.

The casing part ll carries the timer control mechanism which comprises a clock motor 24 preferably of the spring type continuously driving a shaft 25. The shaft adjustably carries a dial 26 graduated in hours of the day, as best seen in Figure 1. Additionally the shaft carries a pair of cam discs 27, each of which has an arcuate edge portion projecting beyond the disc 25 throughout half of its periphery and being relieved throughout the other half of its periphery. The discs 21 can be individually adjusted on a hub mechanism on a shaft 25 and when adjusted can be held in place by a set-screw 28 extending through the disc 26 to press the cam discs 2! together. In this way the cam discs 21 can be set with their 3 projecting edge portions overlapping to any desired extent, as indicated in Figure 1, to select the time interval during which the counting mechanism will be efiective.

The discs 21 control a double throw switch 29 having an operating arm 3| engaging the peripheries of both discs. When the arm 3| engages the projecting edge portion of either disc, it will be swung to the position shown in Figure 1 to move the switch 29 to one of its positions. When the arm 3| is opposite the relieved edge portions of both discs 21, it will spring radially toward the discs to move the switch 29 to its other position.

In order to select which of the positions of the switch 29 is efiective, a second double throw switch 32 is provided. The poles of the switch 32 are connected respectively to the poles of the switch 29, as seen in Figure 3 and the switch 32 is manually operable. With the switch 32 in the position shown, it selects the short cycle so that the counting device will be eiiective when the arm 3| is opposite the relieved edge portions of the discs. With the discs .adjusted as shown, this means that the counting device will be efiective between 6:00 and 11:00 a. m. With the switch 32 thrown to its opposite position, the device is effective when the arm 3| is engaged by the projecting edge portions of the disc 2'1 which in the adjustment illustrated would be from 11:00 a. m. to 6:06 a. m. of the following day. Thus, with this arrangement, by properly adjusting the switch 32 in the desired portion of a day from zero up to the complete twenty-four hours can be made the effective counting period.

The timing device additionally provides for operation during selected days only and for this purpose a switch 33 is provided. The switch 33 is a single throw switch which is normally open and which is closed when its operating arm 34 is-pressed toward it.

To operate the switch 33, a rotatable cam disc 35 is provided which is formed in its periphery to receive a maximum of seven cam plugs 38 corresponding to the seven days of the week. The disc is so positioned that when one of the cam plugs 35 registers with the arm 34, it will close the switch 33, but when no plug is present the switch 33 will remain open.

The cam disc is driven through a ratchet wheel 3? (Figure 2) which is operated step by step by a ratchet plunger 38 slidable radially toward and away from the shaft 25. A spring 39 urges the plunger 33 toward the shaft 25 and it is moved away from the shaft by a spiral cam 4| which is rotated by the shaft. With this construction, as the shaft 25 turns, making one revolution per day, it will gradually move the plunger 38 outward, sliding over the ratchet wheel 31. At the end of the day, the end of the plunger 28 will drop off or the sharp shoulder on the cam 4| when the parts are in the position corresponding to Figure 1 which shows the position they will occupy at midnight. When this occurs, the spring 29 will move the plunger toward the shaft 25 and the plunger will turn the ratchet and cam disc 35 one-seventh of a revolution. This brings the cam disc to the position corresponding to the next day to close the switch 33 if a cam button 36 is present or to allow the switch 33 to open if no cam button is present.

The several switches are connected in series between the battery 33 and the coil 2|, as indicated in the wiring diagram, Figure 3. When the switches 29 and 32 are in corresponding positions, as shown, and when the switch 33 is closed, an impulse will be transmitted to the coil each time the diaphragm l5 receives an impulse. These impulses will be counted by the counting device I8 to register the number of vehicles passing the counting device during the counting period. If any of the switches is in open position, the impulses received by the diaphragm |5 will not energize the coil 2| and accordingly will not be counted.

With the present mechanism, it is possible in tramc counting to set the device at a selected location and have it count the vehicles passing during selected hourly periods of certain days only with a high degree of accuracy and without attention. This is highly desirable since it minimizes the amount of servicing required and provides an extremely accurate count. The timing mechanism can also be utilized in connection with other types of counting devices and with other types of operating mechanisms in which it is desired to provide operation only during selected time periods. Therefore, while the mechanism has been specifically described in connection with a traffic counter, it is understood that it is not limited thereto, nor otherwise than by the terms of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A timer control comprising a timer motor, a shaft continuously driven by the motor, a pair of discs rotatably mounted on the shaft each having a circular edge extending throughout one-half of its periphery and being relieved throughout the remaining half of its periphery, means adjustably to secure the discs to the shaft for rotation as a unit therewith, a double throw switch having a single operating member engaging the peripheries of both of the discs to move the switch to one position when it engages the circular edge of either of the discs and to the other position when it is opposite the relieved portions of both of the disc peripheries, a second double throw switch having its poles connected respectively to the poles of the first named switch and a circuit in which both double throw switches are connected in series whereby adjustment of the discs relative to each other on the.

shaft and by movement of the second double throw switch the circuit can be energized through any selected portion from zero through 360 of rotation of the shaft.

2. A timer control comprising a timer motor, a cam disc driven by the motor, a double throw switch having an operating member engaging the cam disc, a second double throw switch having its poles connected respectively to the poles of the first double throw switch, an on-off switch in:

series with the double throw switches, a control member connected to the motor to be driven step by step thereby, one step for each revolution of the cam disc, and operating means for the onofi switch engaging the control member to operate the on-off switch in response to the step-bystep movement of the control member.

3. A timer control comprising a motor, a cam disc driven by the motor, a double throw switch having an operating member engaging the cam disc, 2. second double throw switch having its poles connected respectively to the poles of the first double throw switch, an on-ofi switch in series with the double throw switches, a rotatable cam member to operate the on-ofi switch, and

ratchet means operated by the motor to rotate the cam member in a step by step manner one step for each revolution of the cam disc;

4. In combination with an impulse counter having a counting device, a coil to operate the device, and an impulse operated switch, a timer control comprising a motor, a shaft driven by the motor, a pair of cam discs on the shaft each having a circular edge extending throughout half of its periphery and being relieved throughout the other half of its periphery, means adjustably to secure the discs to the shaft, a double throw switch having an operating member engaging the peripheries of the discs to move the switch to one position when it engages the circular edge of either disc and to its other position when it is opposite the relieved portions of both discs, a second double throw switch having its poles connected respectively to the poles of the first named double throw switch, and a circuit connecting all of the switches in series to the coil.

5. In combination with an impulse counter having a counting device, a coil to operate the device, and an impulse operated switch, a timer control comprising a motor, a shaft driven by the motor, a pair of cam discs on the shaft each having a circular edge extending throughout half of its periphery and being relieved throughout the other half of its periphery, means adjustably to secure the discs to the shaft, a double throw switch having an operating member engaging the peripheries of the discs to move the switch to one position when it engages the circular edge of either disc and to its other position when it is opposite the relieved portions of both discs, a. second double throw switch having its poles connected respectively to the poles of the first named double throw switch, an on-ofi switch, means operated by the motor selectively to operate the on-off switch, and a circuit connecting all of the switches in series to the coil.

6. In combination with an impulse counter having a counting device, a coil to operate the device, and an impulse operated switch, a timer control comprising a motor, a shaft driven by the motor, a pair of cam discs on the shaft each having a circular edge extending throughout half of its periphery and being relieved throughout the other half of its periphery, means adjustably to secure the discs to the shaft, a double throw switch having an operating member engaging the peripheries of the discs to move the switch to one position when it engages the circular edge of either disc and to its other position when it is opposite the relieved portions of both discs, a second double throw switch having its poles connected respectively to the poles of the first named double throw switch, an on-off switch, a rotatable cam member to operate the 011-0113 switch selectively, ratchet means operated by the motor to move the cam member in a step by step manner, and a circuit connecting all of the switches in series to the coil.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 465,805 Sawyer Dec. 22, 1891 721,194 Horn Feb. 24, 1903 830,041 Ballou Sept. 4, 1906 1,563,488 Hoge Dec. 1, 1925 1,790,864 Holtz Feb. 3, 1931 2,078,781 Sprenger Apr. 27, 1937 2,209,108 Briggs July 23, 1940 2,334,143 Basquin Nov. 9, 1943 2,372,757 Bennett, Jr. Apr. 3, 1945 2,538,243 Hazard et a1. Jan. 16, 1951 2,557,450 Mentzel June 19, 1951 2,568,758 Mumma Sept. 25, 1951 

